The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-02-05
PRACTICAL LOVE.

81 love the church fifty dollars worth
tonight; my wife also believes in practi-
cal love and practical religion, and wishes
her name put down for the same amount"
After making this little practical
speech Mr.. Brownly sat down amid the
admiring smiles OF the assembled con-
gregation. Following this were num-
Der of other generous donations, so that
very soon the required sum for paying
off the old debt was subscribed. AS the
people we're leaving the church at the
close of the meeting Mr.. Brownly's cou-
sin, Joe Benton, accosted him with,
"Don't be in hurry, Cousin John; am
going by way of your house tonight.
As we walk along perhaps you can explain
how it comes that you can afford to be SO
liberal; not that think this enc hundred
dollars OF yours tonight SO very much,
but, you see, this continual giving little
here and little there amounts to great
deal in the total; and then-and then"
"Well, and then, what?" inquired Cou-
sin John, with knowing twinkle in his
eyes.
"Why, 1 don't see the need of your
wife's name down for onehalf of your
subscriptions, when the money all comes
out of your pocket. Your wife was but
poor girl when you married her"
"Oh, that's because mans wife is his
better half; and that is the better part of
my giving. AS for my always being so
liberal I really wasn't aware OF being
particularly SO. Wife and 1 have had
way of our own for these many years and
have become SO accustomed to it that l
wasn't conscious of there being anything
singular about it. We both keep an exact
account of our expenditures and receipts,
and the one tenth of our income above
expenses is set apart for benevolent pur-
poses. As for my wife's being poor
girl, there you mistake, for she was In
fact very rich, rich in health, goodness,
beauty, common sense, intelligence and
sweetness of disposition. tell you l
married fortune in my wife, worth more
than all the gold mines of California;
and it has ever been my care to see that
none of my wife's wealth shall be squan-
dered. And now after twenty years of
welded life / have one OF the most light
hearted, healthy, happy and joyous of
women. From our marriage day to the
present time wife and have considered
our marriage to be partnership in which
the one half of all our possessions right
fully belongs to each of US. In money
matters as in everything else one-half of
our whole income is given into her hands
to do with as she pleases."
"Well, how would such plan work
for all women?' queried Cousin Joe,
"your wife is an uncommonly sensible
woman; there aren't many like her. Now,
for most women to have money in their
own hands in that manner they would
soon have it spent in very foolish way"
"That would be entirely their own
business" WAS the rather sharp response.
"For the woman foolishly to hoard or
toolshly spend her own rlghtful half Is
much better than for the man to hoard
foolishly or spend the whole Of it, thus
selfishly robbing the wife Of her own.
Women are wiser economists and better
managers than many men imagine; but
some are too conceited and selfish to give
their wives fair trial and find out
When married determined, if possible,
to have the loveliest wife and most charm
ing home that this earth could give. and
l trust you will pardon my conceit when
1 say am supremely happy in the con-
sciousuess of such attainments."
"Well, John, you do seem to have made
some lucky strikes in your life, that's
fact. OF course never tried your plan;
don't think it would work well in my